An evaluation of the Parents Plus-Parenting When Separated programme

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2016 Apr;21(2):240-54. doi: 10.1177/1359104515581717. Epub 2015 Apr 24.

Abstract

This study evaluated the Parents Plus-Parenting when Separated Programme, an intervention specifically designed to address the needs of separated parents in an Irish context. In a randomized control trial, 82 separated parents with young children were assigned to the Parents Plus-Parenting when Separated Programme treatment group and 79 to a waiting-list control group. They were assessed on measures of client goals, parenting satisfaction, child and parental adjustment and interparental conflict at baseline (Time 1) and 6 weeks later (Time 2), after the treatment group completed the Parents Plus-Parenting when Separated Programme. From Time 1 to 2, significant goal attainment, increases in parenting satisfaction and decreases in child behaviour problems, parental adjustment problems and interparental conflict occurred in the Parents Plus-Parenting when Separated Programme group, but not in the control group. These results supported the effectiveness of Parents Plus-Parenting when Separated Programme, which should be made more widely available to separated parents.

Keywords: Co-parental conflict; Parents Plus; divorce; parent training; separation.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child Behavior / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Divorce / psychology*
  • Family Conflict / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parenting / psychology*
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Problem Behavior / psychology*
  • Program Evaluation*